![]() Her brother, Roger, talks about the misconceptions that others have about their family based on their possessions. Middle School student Brittany Smith talks about trying to shower without hot water in a snowy winter. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the documentary is the straightforward way that kids are able to explain their struggles. Neumann is sensitive in his portrayals of the children without sparing viewers the often-depressing details about the chances these children have to enjoy prosperous lives. The children’s honest and sometimes heartbreaking worldviews highlight the growing problem of poverty in America and the fallout from the economic crisis. Long interviews with the featured kids are punctuated by shorter interviews with their parents, most of whom are unable to find full-time work and struggle to meet even the most basic needs of their families. ![]() The documentary follows three families with children over the course of a year. Neumann has previously documented the struggles of poor children in his native Britain. Director Jezza Neumann explores the problems of childhood poverty in Frontline’s Poor Kids, which originally aired in November 2012. Their daily struggle to survive and enjoy childhood is largely hidden from middle- and upper-class families, most of whom have only a vague idea of what growing up in poverty is really like. While the federal government has set the so-called ‘poverty line’ at $23,050 of income per year for a family of four, many of America’s poor kids live far below this line. This is because the experience of poverty poses many challenges for children.Between 13.4 and 16.5 million American children live in poverty. Poverty is associated with lower levels of academic achievement and educational attainment for children.During the early years, malnutrition can result in failure to thrive and developmental problems diabetes, obesity) as well as mental health issues. Children living in food insecure households and communities may suffer from inadequate nutrition which can contribute to physical health problems (e.g.Children from low-income families also have less financial resources to draw upon in times of need and crisis Children who live in poverty typically have low levels of access to health care services and other social supports which are critical for promoting good health and managing and treating health conditions.There is evidence that children living in poverty experience worse health outcomes child poverty also contributes to poor health outcomes during adulthood. In general, poverty is widely understood to be a risk factor for many health conditions, so much so that physicians are now encouraged to screen patients for poverty in order to better respond to health concerns.For this reason, poverty has been described by some researchers as an adverse childhood experience (ACE) The effects of stress and other social conditions of poverty also can increase the risk of children developing mental health issues and behavioural problems. This effect is sometimes referred to as toxic stress. Chronic or prolonged stress, such as the stress experienced by those who live in extreme poverty, can negatively impact early brain development, potentially resulting in cognitive impairment and other long-term consequences for children.Poverty can negatively impact child health, child well-being, and child development in the following ways: ![]()
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